“Yes, massa,” Jack Jimmy answered, and hurried out of the apartment.
While Jack Jimmy and the other man were intent on searching for whatever valuables the villa contained, Appadocca seated himself on the same chair that still stood at the head of the table.
His eyes had become gradually more and more intently fixed on the two beautiful children, who clung in wakeful unconsciousness to their pale and still insensible mother.
They seemed actually petrified with fear, while their large interesting eyes were firmly rivetted in a vacant stare on the terrible being whose coming had brought so much horror to the happy villa.
“Yes, it is too true,” muttered Appadocca, “the sins of the fathers are visited on their children. Were it not for the injustice of your father, my little ones, I should not be here to-night to terrify you with my fierce and unfriendly looks. If my heart had not been long seared, if there was still in it one single portion that continued as fresh as once the whole was, your silent looks, your unspeaking terror, would move me more than the eloquence of a thousand glib-tongued orators. Nay, I might, perhaps, forget my vow.
“How poisonously bitter are the cups that others season for our lips? Still, may Heaven preserve in your minds the deeds of to-night, and when you shall have grown up, always recollect this sad retribution, and speak a word whenever you may be able, and say that you know, by the experience of a scene of your childhood, that certain creatures who are branded and repudiated by society are beings who possess feelings, and who claim the same measure of justice as is meted out to all.”
“Me get all, massa,” said Jack Jimmy, who now came in with an air of serious importance.
Appadocca rose and pointed to the door; the two men then walked off from the villa, and were immediately followed by the captain himself.
The villa which, but a short time before, presented a scene of domestic happiness, was now left in the desolation of death, with the lights still burning, and the superfluity of luxury still scattered about. The gate was heavily drawn after them by the three persons that had just passed through, and silence settled over the place.